Influence of Prior Deformation on The Sensitisation of AISI Type 304 Stainless Steel and Applicability of EPR Technique

Abstract

The influence of prior plastic deformation on the degree of sensitisation (DOS) of AISI 304 stainless steel has been studied for various levels of cold work ranging from 0 to 25% using the ASTM standard A262 practices A and E, and the electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) technique. Peak current density and reactivation charge density were determined from single loop EPR experiments and the ratio of the peak current during reactivation to that during activation was determined from double loop EPR experiments. The feasibility of using these techniques for determining the DOS in cold worked samples was examined. The reproducibility of the EPR results is rather poor. There appears to be no well defined systematic trend between the degree of cold work and the DOS as estimated from the EPR parameters. EPR parameters were found to be dependent on the temperature of aging and the degree of prior cold work. Threshold values above which a sample can be treated as sensitised cannot therefore be determined from EPR tests without being confirmed independently by conventional ASTM standard methods.     

Composition of self-assembled quantum dots

Abstract

Semiconductor quantum dot (QD) nanostructures have attracted increased interest in recent years because of their electronic and optical properties. A common way to make QDs is to grow a thin layer of material on a substrate with a different lattice constant. The strain between the layers induces the formation of three-dimensional islands. The electronic properties of the islands are mainly determined by their size, shape and composition. While the size and shape of QDs have been the focus of many studies, only recently has their composition been investigated. Experimental studies of the composition of QDs are reviewed and compared with the available theoretical models of QD growth. It is found that no model in the literature can satisfactorily predict QD size, shape and composition. Experimental results from studies of QDs grown under similar conditions vary substantially. Most authors, however, agree that the average composition of the QDs is different from the nominal composition of the deposited material. The composition is also found to vary from top to bottom of the QDs, which is found to have a significant influence on the electronic properties.     

Investigation of deformation and heat treatment effects on properties of PM 92.5W–5Ni–2.5Fe heavy alloys

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of vacuum heat treatment under different cooling conditions on mechanical and structural properties of forged heavy alloys, such as 92.5W–5Ni–2.5Fe and 92.5W–5Ni–25Fe microalloyed with Co. The tungsten composition in the c phase has proved to be higher and more homogenous in the rapidly cooled alloys than in the slowly cooled ones. The effects of chemical composition inhomogeneity on mechanical and structural properties of alloys were also analysed and discussed. The results of tensile and toughness testing have shown an increase in ductility and toughness, while the strength of heat treated alloys decreased in comparison with the strength of forged alloys. The fracture analysis has shown that in the sintered and rotary forged alloys, intergranular fracture of the tungsten phase and transgranular fracture of the γ phase occurred, respectively. The fracture of these phases after heat treatment was characterised by transgranular morphology.     

Large undercooling,rapid solidification,and nucleation mechanism during multistage atomisation

Abstract

The large undercooling and rapid quenching that can occur during multistage atomisation are studied both theoretically and experimentally. Results show that these two effects are closely related to and promoted by each other. The level of undercooling for droplets is dependent on alloy composition, powder particle size, and atomisation condition. The cooling rates of droplets depend heavily on their particle size. Both experiments and theoretical analysis on Sn-Pb alloys reveal that a certain function of undercooling has a linear relationship with the logarithm of the mean powder particle particle size. Based on the present results, a mechanism of nucleation preferred on surface oxide is proposed to give a quantitative interpretation of the experimental observations.     

Integrated Design of an Ionic Polymer–Metal Composite Actuator/Sensor

We are studying the robotic application of ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC). The characteristics of IPMC greatly depend on the type of counterions, and it is considered that the performance of the actuators can be improved by combining the actuators with several types of counterions and applying an integrated control. IPMC also has a sensor function, as the IPMC film generates an electromotive force when it is deformed. It has the possibility to be integrated into an IPMC actuator with soft actuation. In this paper, we consider an integrated design of an IPMC actuator/sensor, and investigate control of the combined IPMC actuators using H _∞ control and the construction of an IPMC sensor system.     

Ab initio Studies on Magnetism of 3d Transition Metal Dimers

Ab initio calculations with the self-consistent full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave method (FLAPW), under generalized gradient approximation, have been carried out to describe the electronic and magnetic properties of 3d transition metal dimers. It predicted the antiferromagneticity of Cr2 and ferromagneticity of other species. The Mn2 dimer was shown to be ferromagnetic coupling with a local magnetic moment of 5μB, retaining the value of its free atom state. The V2 and Ni2 exhibited low spin-polarization with local magnetic moment of only 1μB per atom. On the other hand, Fe2 and Co2 were highly spin-polarized with local magnetic moments of 3 and 2μB.     

FEM analysis to predict development of structure during extrusion and subsequent solution soak cycle

Abstract

Materials which form the surface and subcutaneous layers of an extrudate experience large deformations when they traverse the die land, which, added to the inhomogeneous caused by the dead metal zone, leads to considerable modifications to the deformation parameters when compared with the remainder of the extrusion. The distribution of structure is therefore greatly inhomogeneous. Reference to both empirical and physical models of the recrystallisation process indicates that nucleation and growth will differ at these locations in those alloys that are usually solution treated and aged subsequent to the deformation process. Since static recrystallisation (SRX) has a significant influence on many of the properties of the extrudate, it is therefore essential to provide the methodology to predict these variations. In the present work, a physical model based on dislocation density, subgrain size and misorientation is modified and integrated into the commercial FEM codes, FORGE2 and FORGE3 to study the changes of the microstructure. Axisymmetrical and shape extrusion are presented as examples. The evolution of the substructure influencing SRX is studied. The metallurgical behaviours of axisymmetric extrusion and that of shape extrusion are compared. The predicted results show an agreement with the experimental measurement. The distribution of equivalent strain, temperature compensated strain rate and temperatures is also presented to aid in interpretation. Importantly the properties of hard alloys improve with the increase in the temperature of the extrusion. This phenomenon is discussed and theoretically justified.     

Temperature dependence of low cycle fatigue of 316(N) weld metals and 316L(N)/316(N) weld joints

Abstract

The low cycle fatigue behaviour of 316(N) weld metals and 316L(N)/316(N) weld joints have been investigated in the temperature range of 300–873 K, at a strain amplitude of ±0·6% and a strain rate 3 6 10^–3 s^–1, to study the influence of dynamic strain aging (DSA). The 316(N) weld metal exhibited better fatigue life than the weld joint, though the weld metal has shown higher cyclic stress response and higher plastic strain accumulation than the weld joint. Significant features observed in the temperature regime of 300–873 K include the maximum in fatigue life at 573 K and DSA in the range of 673–873 K. Occurrence of DSA has been manifested through drastic reduction in fatigue life in the range of 673–873 K, associated with anomalous stress response. Dominant DSA effects have been observed at about 773 K in the weld joint and at 823 K in the weld metal. However, the effect of DSA is found to be nominal beyond 823 K where the reduction in fatigue life is attributed to the combined effects of oxidation and DSA. Secondary crack density measurements (in the range of 300–873 K) in the weld joint specimens revealed the severity of the heat affected zone (HAZ) in inducing fatigue damage. Parameters have been identified to determine the temperature corresponding to dominant DSA effects.     

The Static Failure of Adhesively Bonded Metal Laminate Structures: A Cohesive Zone Approach

Adhesively bonded metal laminates are used in aerospace applications to achieve low cost, light weight structures in the aerospace industry. Advanced structural adhesives are used to bond metal laminae to manufacture laminates, and to bond stringers to metal laminate skins. Understanding the failure behaviour of such bonded structures is important in order to provide optimal aircraft designs. In this paper, the static failure behaviour of adhesively bonded metal laminate joints is presented. A cohesive zone model was developed to predict their static failure behaviour. A traction–separation response was used for the adhesive material. Three joint configurations were considered: a doubler in bending, a doubler in tension and a laminated single lap. The backface strains and static failure loads obtained from experimental tests were used to validate the results from finite element modelling. The models were found to be in good agreement with experiments.